I started last month off with a post on some random things learned over the course of April. It was a fun post to write, so I have decided to continue my “Lessons of a Mommy Blogger” monthly post. May included lots of lessons – both big and small. It was a great month!

1. Running Shorts are Awesome!

I know I’m not a runner, but that doesn’t change the fact that running shorts are extremely comfortable for working out in. I bought a few pairs at the beginning of the month because it started getting warmer and my old workout shorts were kind of really old. From not having underwear riding up on you thanks to the built in undergarment to how flattering they are, I fell in love immediately. Maybe one day I will actually use them for a run.

2. Friendships change.

I’ve learned that as we age and pursue different things in life, friendships will naturally alter as we do. That’s not to say they are any less worthy, simply that they are different. I also learned that friendships with those whom we have more in common are very fulfilling and that new friendships can grow fast. Em and I are already becoming great friends ever since learning we lived less than 30 minutes from each other. I had tons of fun today Em!!

3. Writing more seriously is TOUGH! I haven’t disclosed this yet, but I got contacted a few weeks ago about writing a freelance article for the June/July issue of the online magazine Faith & Fitness. I was given a lot of support and learned quite a few things. I look forward to continuing to grow in my writing and hope to continue writing in places other than the blog. We’ll see where it goes. And I will be sure to link to the article I wrote once it is available. 😀

4. No A/C isn’t as bad as it sounds…until bedtime.

We have been without A/C since last September. It was cool enough then for it to not be a problem, but the past month things have started to warm up a lot (hello 90 degrees outside). I was worried it would be a sauna in our house. Thanks to an attic fan, fans in every room of the house, and little carpet it hasn’t been uncomfortable at all. Well, except for a few random nights where it’s pretty muggy. I like to sleep with it cool and it has been hard sleeping in warmer temps. We’re trying to decide what to do about the A/C….there are lots of things to consider with our current unit.

5. Pregnancy symptoms hit FAST!

One day I was fine, the next I was not. I should have been more aware of this since I’ve been there before, but it still hits as a shock. Another good lesson that comes from this…you really learn to go with the flow. I have learned to fit in workouts where and how I can and that it’s okay if I can’t stomach vegetables all the time. Things will be balanced out soon.

6. Going along with #5…when pregnant, I can choose not so healthy meals over and over and over. And not get sick of it like I would before…or care because it’s the only thing that sounds good.

I showed you before how meals like the above were a common part of my weekend, but I was still able to go out to lunch today and order some heavier stuff again. Em & I met up at a really neat restaurant called The Flying Biscuit. I ordered the black bean & corn cakes with feta, sour cream, & tomatillo sauce and had some of their famous grits on the side.

Odd combo, I know. It was good though. The cakes were a teensy bit dry, but had good flavor. I did scrape all the feta off too. I don’t like it and it’s a no-no during pregnancy. The grits and biscuit were amazing. I’m glad I listened to her and got them. It was a wonderful lunch and we had lots to talk about as usual. I already can’t wait to see her again.

7. Peter rocks! The man knows me well. He got me the new camera AND surprised me with a 90 minute massage in May. I am still loving the camera and can’t wait to continue learning how to use it better. I also really can’t wait to cash in the massage sometime soon.

8. Many of us have body image issues from time to time.

Thanks to all the comments on my post about body dysmorphia it became very apparent that we can relate to each other on not feeling our best physically on occasion. I love the support we can give each other through the blogging world. I have come a long way, but it helps to know that when I do face it there are other gorgeous ladies who can understand and help. I can only hope that those types of issues are reduced in the future.

9. I don’t get as upset about judgmental comments as I expected I would. I had my first judgmental comment this past month (it related to Makenzie and my parenting). I thought I would get more offended by such a comment, but I didn’t. I believe it is because I trust I am a good mother and do not allow others’ opinions of me to determine my own self worth. I feel confident in who I am as a person.

10. Trust God.

‘Nough said. 😉

• What is something you learned during the month of May?
• Do negative comments affect you at all? How do you respond to them? I actually intended to respond to the one I mentioned, but then time got away. I don’t think I need to defend myself on my blog, but I do kind of regret not responding (in a calm, appropriate manner) to the comment.
• What do you love to workout in?

…but at least they aren’t like they used to be. Today they were more of the scatter-brained variety, and not so much the negative thinking variety. I’ll get to the bigger mental issues later in the post. For now, I just have to relish the fact I was actually productive today, even if some mental freak outs on still having so much to do occurred.

I woke up feeling much better than yesterday, so I decided to hit up the gym for a Power class and a brief and easy 20 minutes on the elliptical with my book. It felt good. The sick feeling even stayed at bay until after a grocery run for this weekend. We are going to a cabin in the North Georgia Mountains with 6 of our friends. I look forward to the good times, even with a forecast like this…

…and a hot tub I won’t be able to get in. Sad, but true.No matter what, I’m looking forward to it. We leave tomorrow afternoon. Yay!

I still have quite a bit to do, namely packing and baking (Heather’s Insanity Bars!!!) and finishing laundry, but I work better under stress. At least that is what I tell myself. The hubs would disagree and just say I go mental. But he isn’t stopping me from watching Dear John tonight with him.

The hubs would also pretend to disagree with my movie choice, but I know he loves chick flicks deep down. Even more so when he knows they will put me in a better mood and not give me a reason to refuse baking those  Insanity Bars for him. I would have to be insane not to though. Yes, that pun was intended. Did you really expect less of me? 😉

One way I am no longer crazy? I no longer battle a completely distorted view of my body daily and just strive to be healthy. While watching The Biggest Loser Finale the other night it hit me that many of those contestants are probably going to face some mental repercussions after the show ends. I have a feeling that many of the tougher competitors went into the finale extremely depleted in hopes of winning.

My main point is, that these contestants went to such extremes (a very restricted diet and HOURS of working out every day) to drop weight quickly that when they return to a still healthy, but more modified way of doing things their bodies won’t likely be able to maintain where they were for the finale. I realized how similar that is to after a fitness competition. You go from intense and restricted to normal living and your body just won’t stay as lean as it was. Which is a good thing, since it’s not the healthiest way to live anyways.

Even though your body might appreciate following a healthier approach to food and exercise, your mind many times doesn’t. I know I faced some serious body image issues for a couple months after the show. I fought and prayed hard to gain a more realistic view of myself, consider how I was taking care of my body, and be reasonable about why I had to gain extra. I am thankful that we immediately were trying to conceive because I think having a bigger reason behind the weight gain made it easier to swallow. However, it didn’t stop me from looking in the mirror and sometimes seeing a distorted version like this…

Remembering that made me wonder if those contestants will face the same thing. Or even some of my fellow beautiful women out there? Will we naturally put back on a little weight after reaching an unrealistic point and then never view ourselves the same again through constant comparison to our previous levels of “fitness/leanness”? I admit that while I do it less, it still happens. Sometimes I will look in the mirror and think I am more out of shape than I have ever been, only to have Peter point out some pictures of when we were first dating and give me a reality check. I never thought of myself as out of shape at the time of those pictures. Now, I’m in better shape but by comparing myself to how lean I became for the show, I inevitably think I’m huge.

The terrible thing about this way of thinking, is it often can lead us to even unhealthier practices. We think we are “unworthy” because we couldn’t maintain a particular body and feel it isn’t worth the hard work, possibly leaving our healthier habits behind. Or we simply continue berating ourselves until nothing can bring us back to reality and we lose confidence, affecting our relationships with others and the passion with which we live our lives. Or we become so focused on what we see in the mirror nothing else matters and we will take unhealthy steps to reach the perfection we wish to see and pursue a futile, never-ending process of finding happiness in our looks.

How do I fight the negative images that sometime appear in the mirror like an ugly mirage? I always have reasons why I’m beautiful in my mind that I can turn to during weak moments (post with my reasons scheduled for this weekend when I’m out of town). I have prayer so I can turn to my Creator and feel His peace. I tell Peter or my sister or my mom so they can give me a realistic view on things (they will be honest if I do in fact look like I’ve been packing on some unnecessary lbs). I walk away and refuse to sit in the mirror picking myself apart. I think about my day or week and how well I cared for myself with exercise and healthy eating. Find anything that works for you to keep yourself feeling strong and confident and beautiful. Because you ARE very beautiful.

• Have you ever experienced body dysmorphia where what you see in the mirror doesn’t match the reality of your beauty? How has it affected you? How do you fight it?
• Do you freak out easily over a busy schedule? It’s something I am always working on. I can be a worry wart when I don’t feel 100% in control of day to day things getting done when I want them to.
• Best movie you have seen recently? Movie you want to see soon? I guess mine would be The Blind Side out of any I’ve seen recently. I have both Dear John and It’s Complicated rented to watch soon. In theatres I can’t wait for Sex and the City 2 and Eclipse!!
• What are your Memorial Day plans?

Disclaimer: I know I’m not huge. I feel amazing and healthy (besides days pregnancy ailments get the best of me). The distorted thinking is minimal now, but it is a relevant issue that I have recently experienced and felt called to discuss.